Undergraduate Prior Learning Portfolio Development
If you have years of work experience and/or community involvement, you may have gained some expertise that could apply to your program as electives or major requirement. Below you'll find some more information on cost, how you can build a portfolio to demonstrate your experiences, and other questions you may have.
If you still have questions that aren't answered after reading the information below or if you want to talk more about the process, please reach out to the Prior Learning Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Kate VanDerkolk - [email protected] - 616-331-7180
Prior Learning Process Information
How do I get started building a portfolio
- Review your myPath and remaining degree requirements, If you feel you have experience that could apply to a required course, connect with your academic advisor to have a more in depth conversation about your remaining course requirements. Be prepared to discuss how your experiences might apply to the course you would like to get credit for.
- create an account at https://www.ccfasttrack.org/
- Identify the course(s) you intend to build a portfolio for on the ccfasttrack website and the Prior Learning Coordinator will let you know if you are approved to move forward.
- Pay the $150 evaluation fee
- Build your portfolio - this video shows you more about what you can expect as you build out your portfolio
What is the cost for an Undergraduate Portfolio
The cost to have a portfolio reviewed at the undergraduate level is $150 dollars per portfolio you have reviewed. This is for the assessment and you will pay regardless of whether or not you are awarded credit
What will I be required to submit for my portfolio
When you start building your portfolio you will submit the following:
- A short explanation of why you are petitioning for the course
- Your Resume
- A Personal Essay that details who you are, where you've been, how education will play a role in your future, and specifically the course learning objectives that you have already fulfilled based on past experiences for the course being petitioned for credit
- You will also have an opportunity to upload supporting documents
that demonstrate how you have the experiences you are trying to
demonstrate. Examples might include:
- professional licenses, certifications,work products, art portfolios, awards, job descriptions, newspaper or magazine articles, letters from supervisors or clients, job descriptions, samples of writing or articles published, machines designed or developed
Can I get assistance writing my Portfolio
- If you want help determining the Learning Objectives of a course or just talking through how your experiences may fit, you're welcome to reach out to the Prior Learning Assessment Coordinator, Kate VanDerKolk, [email protected]
- If you are looking for help as you write your personal essay, you can work with the GVSU writing center
What other ways can I earn Credit for my experiences
GVSU courses for which there are alternate evaluative systems in place, such as waivers, placement tests, or external exams (e.g., AP, CLEP, etc.) are not eligible for PLA credit. You can find out about theses alternative options available at www.gvsu.edu/priorlearning.
If you submit a petition for a portfolio review and an alternative evaluation system is in place, you'll be directed to that option instead.
*Prior Learning Credit can be earned for Issues Courses
*Prior Learning Credit can not be earned after you have completed all of your degree requirements. You must be a student actively enrolled in courses.
Undergraduate Prior Learning Assessment Policy
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Credit for Prior Learning can be granted through internal GVSU examination, industry certification, or portfolio assessment. PLA is evaluated internally by GVSU units and faculty. All credit by PLA is subject to the following regulations:
- All PLAs shall be graded Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC). Credit will be posted on the transcript as prefix, course number, Prior Learning and then the course title (which may be abbreviated because of character limitations) without letter grade or quality points. PLA credits may satisfy program course requirements but will not be counted in the grade point average. Students who do not achieve credit will have no entry made on their transcripts. PLA credits count towards the maximum number of CR/NC hours a student is allowed to take at GVSU. Prior learning credit will apply toward the Credit / No Credit limit provided in the General Academic Policies of the catalog. https://www.gvsu.edu/catalog/navigation/academic-policies-and-regulations.htm#anchor-9
- PLA credits count as GVSU credits.
- PLA credits cannot satisfy the General Education Program Issues requirements.
- PLA credit may be given for specific course credit or general credit at the unit's discretion.
- PLA credit earned at another university, whether awarded by examination or some other form of PLA, may transfer to GVSU in accordance with the current policies governing transfer of credit.
- Experiences post high school in which college-level learning was acquired qualify for prior learning credit.
- GVSU courses for which there are alternate evaluative systems in place, such as waivers, placement tests, or external exams (e.g., AP, CLEP, etc.) are not eligible for PLA credit.
- Assessment of PLA materials will be completed within 30 business days of their receipt.
- Each department with program faculty engaged in reviewing and approving PLA credits shall provide uniform data on such activities to the appropriate GVSU entity for reporting and Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation purposes.
- Prior Learning Credit may not be applied toward a course that is a prerequisite for a course a student already has credit for.